A Catholic bishop has urged the faithful to restore home altars and continue praying the rosary.
San Jose de Antique Bishop Marvyn Maceda made the call to strengthen families as centers of prayer and faith amid what he described as increasing threats to the spiritual aspect.
He noted that many families have gradually set aside traditional signs of devotion, including home altars that once served as the center of prayer, and have replaced them with entertainment and digital distractions.
“Put it (the altar) back to signify that Jesus is the King of the house,” Maceda said in an article published on the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines News.
“A big television set is now at the center of the living room, while the images of faith have been relegated to the sidelines,” he added.
The bishop of San Jose de Antique also expressed concern over whether families still gather regularly to pray the rosary together.
“Lolo and lola are the only ones praying the rosary now. The children and grandchildren are no longer there,” Maceda said.
He also asked Catholics to return to the basic methods of devotion and deepen their relationship with Jesus, adding that holiness remains the primary goal of Christian life despite the challenges and distractions of modern times.
